Prisoners: pharmacy services.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to maintain and operate a comprehensive pharmacy services program for those facilities under the jurisdiction of the department that is both cost effective and efficient, and that may incorporate a requirement for the use of generic medications, when available, unless an exception is reviewed and approved in accordance with an established nonformulary approval process. This bill would instead require the use of less expensive medications as achieved by the statewide pharmaceutical program, when those medications are available, unless an exception is reviewed and approved in accordance with an established nonformulary approval process, or unless the prescriber has indicated on the face of the prescription or on any other appropriate form for electronic prescriptions "dispense as written".